Lavatory silencer



Aug.v 24, 1937. a. o. TILDEN LAVATORY SILENCER Filed April 10, 1936INVENTOR BY BR7' 0. T/LDE/Y ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1937 ETED STESATENT OFFIQE '7 Claims.

My invention relates to drains such as lavatory wastes, toilet tankdrains and the like and particularly to constructions which eliminate orreduce the noise or sounds produced upon discharge of water from avessel.

The sound produced by the drainage of water from a sink and by thedischarge of water from the tank of a toilet on flushing the same isvery annoying and objectionable. This noise is due largely to the actionof air drawn into the stream of water passing through the drain ordischarge pipe from overflow passages which are provided for preventingflooding of the tank or fixture.

In accordance with my invention this action is prevented or reduced andthe sounds incident thereto are largely or entirely eliminated. Wi'ulethis result may be attained in various ways I prefer to accomplish thesilencing of fixtures by separating or shielding the overflow passagefrom 90 the drain through which water passes in emptying a lavatory ortank. The action of the water on the air in the overflow passage canthereby be eliminated altogether or can be so modified or reduced as toavoid the gurgling sounds which have heretofore been so objectionable.Furthermore this desirable efiect can be obtained without impeding orseriously interfering with the flow of water through the drain.

One of the objects of my invention is to reduce or eliminate soundsincident to the discharge of water from a vessel such as a lavatory orthe tank of a toilet.

Another object of my invention is to prevent or modify the action of airfrom a communicating passage upon water being discharged through adrain.

A further object of my invention is to shield or separate an overflowpassage from the drain of a lavatory toilet tank or other fixture.

These and other objects and features of my invention will appear fromthe following description of various typical forms of devices embodyingmy invention in which reference is made to the accompanying figures ofthe drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of one form of lavatory or bath tubdrain embodying my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a drain for a toilet tank or thelike embodying my invention.

In that form of my invention chosen for purposes of illustration in Fig.1 of the drawing a lavatory or bath tub 2 is provided with a dischargeopening with a Valve seat 4 for a conventional pop-up waste stopper 6formed with openings ill communicating with the vertically movable drainmember I2. The drain I2 extends. downward into a conventional trap I4which retains water therein and may be provided with a clean-out plugIE5 of any usual or suitable construction for draining the trap.

The trap I4 is of larger diameter at its upper end than is necessary forengaging the drain member I2 and is formed with a slip connectionengaging a fitting I8 which communicates with the overflow passage 20 ofthe fixture through the opening 22 and supporting connection 24 for theoperating mechanism of the pop-up drain member 12. The connection 24 issecured to the fixture by means of a threaded spider 26 engaging thethreaded lower end of the valve seat 4. A sealing member 28 is locatedbetween the connection 24 and the base of the fixture 2 whereas thelower end of the connection is threaded to receive the upper threadedend of the fitting I8. In the construction described two separate passages are provided, one for the water from the drain and other for theoverflow. Both passages lead to the trap and are sealed by the watertherein so that flow of water through one passage does not cause air tobe drawn in from the other. The gurgling sound incident to the drainageof water from the fixture is therefore eliminated and the deviceoperates quietly. The construction and operation of the valve or stopperwhether of the pop-up or any other type and the action of the overflowand drain are unaffected by the novel construction and combination ofelements used. Furthermore the fittings required may all be of standardtype and form, the only change from present construction residing in theprovision of an enlarged downwardly facing opening for the overflowabout which the connection 24 is sealed.

The construction described may be used on lavatories, bath tubs, sinksand other fixtures or wherever water passes from a fixture directly to atrap.

When used in connection with a toilet tank from which water passes tothe rim of the bowl a similar silencing action may be attained byproviding a shield or guard which prevents or modifies the action ofwater passing through the spud from the tank to the bowl.

In the construction of Fig. 2 this is effected by the use of a spud 30having a valve seat 23 displaced to one side of the central opening 34.The opposite side of the spud is formed with a threaded opening 36 forreceiving a conventional upwardly extending overflow 38 the lower end ofwhich communicates with a passage 40 formed in the fitting and extendingalong a wall thereof terminating in a downwardly facing opening 42 nearthe lower part of the spud.

In this construction water flowing through the spud does not pass acrossthe end of the overflow passage as in the conventional overflow so thatlittle if any air is drawn into the drain and that air which does enterthe stream does not cause the objectionable gurgling sound incident tothe operation of constructions of the prior art. The form of the lowerportion of the overflow may be varied as desired or necessary for anyparticular installation to direct water or air along the wall of spud.However, I have shown the lower end of the overflow passages asextending parallel to the axis of the spud since this construction iseasy to produce and oliers relatively little resistance to the flow ofwater through the overflow.

While the constructions described and illustrated herein re preferred,my invention is not restricted to the particular forms, constructions,combinations, and arrangements she but may be used in other relationsand combinations. For this reason it should be understood that the formsof my invention herein shown and described are intended to beillustrative of typical construe-- tions embodying my invention and arenot intended to limit the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A plumbing fixture having a discharge opening, means with which saidopening communicates, overflow means for said fixture alsocoinmunicating with said means and means providing a liquid seal betweensaid discharge opening and overflow means.

2. A plumbing fixture having a discharge opening, means with which saidopening communicates, overflow means for said fixture also communicatingwith said means and a water-retaining trap providing a liquid sealbetween said dis charge opening and overflow means.

3. A plumbing fixture having a discharge opening, overflow means forsaid fixture, a trap to which water from said discharge opening andoverflow means is passed and means connecting both said over dischargeopening and said over-- fiow means to said trap preventing communicationbetween said opening and overflow.

4. A lavatory having a discharge opening, overflow means for thelavatory, a member with which said opening and overflow communicate,providing separate downwardly extending passages, a trap and meansextending from said member to said trap preventing communication betweensaid passages.

5. A lavatory having a discharge opening and a member for receiving astopper extending downwardly therefrom, overflow means for the lavatory,means providing a passage concentric with said member and communicatingwith said overflow means and a trap to which said member and meansextend, providing a liquid seal between said member and passage.

6. A plumbing fixture having a discharge opening, a stopper for closingsaid opening, means for actuating said stopper to permit and prevent thepassage of water through said discharge opening, an overflow passage lorsaid fixture and means extending a substantial distance below theactuating means for said. stopper preventing communiction between saidoverflow passage and said discharge passage.

7. A lavatory having a discharge a stopper for sealing said passage andan overflow for said lavatory, means for actuating said stepperincluding a lube extending through said discharge passage to the upperend 01 which tube said stopper is secured, a member engaging said tubeto raise and lower the tube and stopper, said tube extending asubstantial distance below said member and preventing communicationbetween said discharge passage and said overflow passage, whereby waterin flowing through said passage is unaffected by air entering saidfixture through said overflow passage.

BERT O. 'I'ILDEN.

